Nureyev - His Life by Solway, Diane - 1998

London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1998. A Fine unmarked copy with near Fine dustjacket which is not price clipped.xii + 625 pages. 74 illustrations. The life of Rudolf Nureyev is one of the most dramatic stories of the 20th century. His sensational defection to the West in 1961 sparked a Cold War showdown and grabbed headlines worldwide. Overnight he became a superstar, as renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle as he was for his formidable artistry. Onstage, Nureyev's sexual magnetism excited men and women alike. Offstage, his seductive personality attracted the rich and celebrated into his orbit, among them Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Margaret, Lord Snowdon, Mick Jagger, Andy Warhol and Cecil Beaton. The book traces Nureyev's remarkable climb out of poverty in the war-torn Soviet Union to become one of the 20th century's most poplar and influential artists, one who changed the face of British ballet and transformed the image of the male dancer. Drawing upon firsthand accounts from the Royal Ballet's greatest figures, including Dame Ninette de Valois, Michael Somes, Antoinette Sibley, Lynn Seymour and Anthony Dowell, Diane Solway paints a picture of a company enthralled with Nureyev yet overwhelmed by him. The author also separates fact from fiction in presenting his legendary, passionate partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn and provides an intimate view of Nureyev's relationship with the love of his life, the great Danish dancer Erik Bruhn. PLEASE NOTE: A HEAVY VOLUME OF 1.3 KILO UNPACKED WEIGHT WHICH MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COST L. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.